This blog combines the best elements of Mel Phillips Now And Then & Mel Phillips Remembers with the focus on Now and a look back at your favorite memories...

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

NAB's Smith Calls Performance Tax Bill Dead

All that was missing was the playing of Taps after National Association of Broadcasters President/CEO Gordon Smith proclaimed the Performance Tax Bill Dead. In his keynote address at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Smith claimed that NAB "stopped the legislation that would impose a performance tax on local radio stations." Smith called the tax movement a "freight train headed for passage" that the trade group brought under control by seeking a good faith, workable agreement with the music industry. Smith added this: "Our objective was to make certain that if something passed, it provided a bright future for radio. We offered to compensate record labels and performers if they would help us get broadcast radio on every future cell phone, which is important not only for entertainment, but more importantly to provide the public with an effective alert warning system." ...

Smith adds that the music industry turned the deal down: "In the end the record labels rejected our offer, but the performance tax bill also died. We remain open to discussions. We're still at the table, and we hope the other side comes back. By the way, the context of our approach marked a stark divergence from the past." You can be sure that the music industry will have their own version of this story coming soon. In his closing statement Smith finally yields to radio's necessary inclusion of broadband in its platform...

"The world of the future must include broadcasting and broadband without degrading either" says Smith. He won't get many arguments from that statement...

10 Timeline Memories:1.1870] Get the picture?: The Metropolitan Museum of Art is founded in New York City...2.1940] Their cup runneth over: The New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup by beating Toronto in the NHL playoffs. They also won in 1994...3.1943] Dedicated to the one I love: President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates the Jefferson Memorial on the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birth...4.1954] Debuted on this date:Hank Aaronmakes his major league debut with Milwaukee going 0 for 5 in the Braves loss to Cincinnati...1963] Pete Rose gets his first major league hit (a double) for Cincinnati...1978] Reggie Jacksonhits a home run and 'Reggie Bars' rain down at Yankee Stadium as Robert Phillips and his dad enjoy their Reggie Bars...5.1964] Breaking the color barrier: Sidney Poitier becomes the first black performer in a leading role to win an Academy Award, for "Lilies of the Field."...6.1970] Crippled Apollo returns safely: Apollo 13, four-fifths of the way to the moon is crippled when a tank containing liquid oxygen bursts. The astronauts aboard return safely...7.1986] The record-breaking Master: Jack Nicklaus wins his record 6th Masters title...1997] At 21, Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters. Also the youngest person to wear the hideous green jacket...8.1986] Mazel tov:Pope John Paul II visits a Rome synagogue in the first recorded papal visit of its kind...9.1998] Wedding Bells: NationsBank and Bank of America announce a $62.5 billion merger...10.1999] Guilty as charged: Jack Kevorkian is sentenced to 10 to 25 years for the second-degree murder of a man whose assisted suicide was shown on "60 Minutes" in 1998. He is released after serving a few years because of his health...2005]Eric Rudolphpleads guilty to carrying out the deadly bombing at the 1996 Olympics and 3 other attacks. He is now serving 4 consecutive life sentences...

Music Memories:

1965] Grammy Gold: Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto win a Grammy for 'Record of The Year' ("Girl From Ipanema"). Getz also wins for 'Album of The Year' (with Joao Gilberto) and The Beatles win for 'Best New Artist of the Year"...

About Me

Mel Phillips Now & Then is more Now. The Then always follows the Now. Prior to starting 'Remembers' in 2005 and 'Now & Then' on April 7, 2008 I enjoyed a multi-media career which included being one of the Bill Drake program directors. I was involved in the programming of such legendary stations as WOR-FM, WXLO-FM, WNBC, WRKO AM & FM and KQV. I was also General Manager of Hooper Radio, played disc jockey in markets such as Tampa, Nashville, Norfolk and Atlantic City and enjoyed marketing success in syndicated radio for several companies including ABC, MJI and United Stations. My background also includes the music business where I promoted such diverse CBS acts as The Clash, Gloria Estefan, Loverboy, Judas Priest, George Michael & Julio Iglesias. In Special Programming at WCBS-FM I wrote and produced numerous specials and interviewed some of the biggest recording stars. In addition to this post I'm a regular contributor to Radio Daily News. My wife Diane and I reside on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and I'm very proud of my children, Robert Phillips, Lynn Phillips Brough and granddaughters Allyson and Amy...